Best Led for HID Retrofit: Top LED Retrofit Kits for Smarter Outdoor Lighting
Choosing the right LED retrofit kit can dramatically improve outdoor area lighting, energy savings, and maintenance demands for street, parking, and canopy lighting. This guide highlights five strong options that replace HID lamps with high-efficiency LED solutions, aligned to common streetlight and area-light fixtures. Each product emphasizes efficiency, ease of installation, and certification to support reliable performance in American environments.
| Product | Brand | Approximate Power | Base | Lumens (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBESTLED 150W LED Retrofit Kit | BBESTLED | 150W | E39 Mogul | ~21,000 |
| GTAREN 250W LED Corn Light | GTAREN | 250W | E39 Mogul | ~32,500 |
| NS 250W LED Corn Cob Light | NS | 250W | E39 Mogul | ~37,000 |
| GTAREN 150W LED Corn Cob | GTAREN | 150W | E39 Mogul | ~19,500 |
| OSTEK LED Shoebox Retrofit Kit | OSTEK | 75W/95W/115W | E39 Mogul | ~16,100 |
BBESTLED 150W LED Retrofit Kit for HID Shoebox
The BBESTLED 150W retrofit kit targets outdoor area lighting with a high brightness output and wide coverage. It delivers up to 21,000–21,400 lumens at a color temperature of 5000K, providing a daylight-focused appearance suitable for street and parking lot applications. The kit is designed to replace 400W–550W HID fixtures, achieving substantial energy savings and reduced maintenance costs. It carries ETL and DLC certifications, indicating compliance with performance and safety standards. Installation is simplified by an adjustable U-bracket for horizontal or vertical mounting, and it is important to bypass or remove the ballast to ensure optimal operation. While effective for larger fixtures, users should verify fixture size and ballast bypass requirements prior to purchase.
GTAREN 250W LED Corn Light Bulb
The GTAREN 250W LED Corn Light Bulb provides a robust lumen output, approximating 32,500 lumens at 5000K. Its large Mogul E39 base supports retrofits for high-ceiling industrial and commercial fixtures, replacing about a 1000W MH lamp while consuming roughly a tenth of that energy. The design emphasizes heat dissipation with a metallic body and a built-in efficiency driver, supporting long life. It includes an E26 to E39 adapter option and positions itself as a direct retrofit for warehouses, gyms, and large-area lighting. Installation requires ballast consideration and fixture compatibility checks to avoid dimming or flicker in some fixtures.
GTAREN 150W LED Corn Cob
This 150W GTAREN corn cob model delivers up to ~19,500 lumens at 5000K, designed as a direct HID replacement for MH/HPS fixtures in large, open spaces. It emphasizes energy savings with a low power draw compared to legacy lamps and claims a long LED lifespan relative to traditional lighting. A notable consideration is that the product may require ballast removal and fixture sizing verification. The included E39 Mogul base and occasional availability of an adapter support a smoother retrofit journey, especially for open-style fixtures and bay lighting environments.
Feit Electric LED Downlight Retrofit Kit
This Feit Electric downlight retrofit kit provides 75W with adjustable color temperatures across 2700K to 5000K and a high CRI. While primarily designed for recessed can lighting indoors, similar LED retrofit concepts are used in canopy and open fixtures where color accuracy and dimmability matter. It offers a flicker-free dimming experience and a strong lifetime claim; however, it’s important to note the fixture type and driver compatibility when considering a retrofit for outdoor HID-equivalent loads. It exemplifies how LED options can be chosen to match color and brightness requirements while maintaining energy efficiency.
PHILIPS LED Wall Pack Retrofit Light
The Philips wall pack retrofit option provides a ballast-bypass LED solution with about 5800 lumens at 4000K. It is designed to replace HID fixtures in wall pack configurations and is non-dimmable. The recommended usage emphasizes reliability and consistent performance in outdoor environments, particularly where ballast bypassing is feasible and the fixture can be wired directly to line voltage. This option demonstrates the importance of compatibility with existing drives and mounting standards when upgrading HID wall pack systems.
FLSNT ED28 LED Bulb 39W
The FLSNT ED28 LED bulb offers 39W power with about 6,000 lumens and a 4000K color temperature, intended as a ballast-compatible Type A LED replacement that can fit into HID fixtures already wired with ballasts. It serves as an example of retrofit options that align with simpler ballast-compatible pathways, reducing rewiring needs. For outdoor HID replacements, confirm ballast compatibility and fixture suitability to ensure consistent performance, especially in open-area lighting scenarios where reliability and uniform illumination are critical.
OSTEK LED Shoebox Corn Light
The OSTEK rotatable E39 Mogul base LED corn light delivers 16100 lumens at selectable 75W/95W/115W. It is designed to replace 400–500W MH/HPS fixtures in shoebox, canopy, and floodlight applications, offering an energy-saving profile with a reported 140 lm/W efficacy. The product emphasizes a robust cooling system and UL-listed driver for reliability, along with a long service life. The rotatable design adds installation flexibility for achieving uniform lighting in parking and roadway contexts.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
- Fixture compatibility: Confirm base type (commonly E39 Mogul), ballast bypass requirements, and whether the fixture is open or enclosed, since some LEDs are not suitable for completely enclosed fixtures or need additional heat management.
- Power and lumens: Compare lumen output and input power to ensure sufficient brightness for area lighting. Higher lumens at lower watts generally indicate greater efficiency, but ensure heat sinking and driver reliability match the application.
- Color temperature and CRI: For outdoor street and parking areas, 4000K–5000K is common, with CRI around 80+ to retain color accuracy for safety and visibility in dark environments.
- Certifications: Look for ETL, DLC, and UL listings to ensure performance, safety, and eligibility for utility rebates or efficiency programs.
- Thermals and IP rating: Outdoor fixtures benefit from good thermal management and IP ratings suitable for weather exposure. Verify operating temperature ranges and durability expectations.
- Installation ease: Adjustable brackets, mounting options, and driver integration affect retrofit time and labor costs. Some kits offer universal adapters and quick-connect features to speed up installation.
- Warranty and service: A multi-year warranty and accessible customer support help mitigate retrofit risk and ensure long-term reliability in outdoor settings.
- Dimensional fit: Ensure the physical size fits the existing housing, especially for shoebox and canopy fixtures where space is constrained.
In selecting the best LED retrofit for HID replacements, consider fixture type, mounting constraints, and local energy credits. The options listed above target common outdoor applications such as street lighting, parking areas, and canopy fixtures, offering a mix of lumen output, efficiency, and installation flexibility. Evaluating ballast bypass needs and confirming fixture compatibility will reduce installation hurdles and optimize long-term performance.